Best Fast Food Restaurants in Bloomingdale

"Just say yes to sport peppers and celery salt and hard pass on the ketchup, which is a cardinal sin around these parts. Chicago dogs aren’t hard to come by in Denver, but that trifecta of beefy goodness, cheese fries, and gluttonous chocolate cake is and my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Someone please open a franchise out West – help a girl out."

"Known for its Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, Portillo’s has been a staple of Chicago since 1963. Most of the hot dogs, sandwiches, burgers and sides on the menu cost $5 or less. Besides Chicagoland, Portillo’s also has locations in Arizona, California and Indiana."

"Portillos isn't exactly new in Chicago but the new Avondale location on Addison and Kimball adds to our city's legacy. Get an Italian Beef with giardiniera peppers or a chocolate cake shake for dessert!"

"Much of Chicago’s street food history is offered at Jim's Original, the 24-hour self-proclaimed home of the city's "original" Polish sausage (1941). Because it moved in 1994 after the relocation of the outdoor street market, Jim's Original touts itself as the longest continuously-operating hot dog stand to have once done business on Maxwell Street. The Polish and hot dogs are can't-miss, but the pork chop sandwich is also a Chicago essential."

"Kung Fu Tea is another New York classic that is spreading all across the US, and thankfully, to Chicago’s Chinatown. Kung Fu Tea has authentic Taiwanese bubble tea are dedicated to making their teas with the finest ingredients. They have a great selection of milk teas, fruit teas, and even Kung Fu Coffee."

"Image from: https://my-table.com/bring-boba-guide-asiatowns-bubble-tea-destinations/. The Spot: Just northwest of the Chinatown L stop, Kung Fu Tea is a spacious, second-floor shop that takes cash only. There are board games and large booths, making it a good place to go with a group."

"Specializes in made-to-order tea, milk & fruit-based beverages. Offers a wide selection of drink toppings including bubbles, beans, jellies & pudding."

"The best example of Chicago’s iconic Italian beef sandwiches exists outside of the city at the two suburban locations of Johnnie’s Beef. The space is a throwback; the original fast-food spot opened in 1961 in Elmwood Park and a second has since opened in Arlington Heights. The menu is simple: beefs (the monosyllabic term locals call Italian beef sandwiches), charcoal-grilled Italian sausages, and hot dogs."

"At Johnnie’s Beef, people itching to try the Italian beef sandwich wait in lines out the door. Tender slices of beef are crowded into a soft roll, along with sweet or hot peppers, before it’s showered with its own juices. It’s hefty, meaty and juicy – all for $5."

"Restaurants Hot dogs Grand Boulevard. Founded by local musician Bobby Morelli and his daughter Brooklyn, the Hot Dog Box operates out of a shipping container in the Boxville Marketplace, located right off the Green Line in Bronzeville. Following in the footsteps of creative encased meats purveyors like Hot Doug's and Chicago's Dog House, the father-and-daughter duo is known for it's speciality sausages, such as a filet mignon steak dog covered in bourbon BBQ sauce and a pickle mignon steak paired with truffle peanut butter sauce."

"You’re probably ready for a hot dog, but are you also ready for an adorable story to go with it?. The Hot Dog Box was co-founded by Bobby Morelli and his nine-year-old daughter, Brooklyn. And just like this isn’t any old restaurateur team, this isn’t any old hot dog stand, either: You’re in for a gourmet sausage experience, such as the Bronzeville Bourbon Steak Dog, whose filet mignon frank is topped with veggies, bacon, bourbon barbeque sauce and sport peppers."

"The Hot Dog Box owes much to the gourmet slingers of Chicago’s past, including encased meat master Doug Sohn. At the same time, this tiny space in Bronzeville is blazing its own path with tubular creations such as a filet mignon sausage. Bobby Morelli and his 9-year-old daughter have teamed up to breathe some life into the city’s hot dog scene."

"They serve Chicago style street food favorites with unique extras. If you are looking to sample Chicago flavors, I recommend the Maxwell Street Polish. The Gyros sandwich is another popular item made with premium meats and homemade creamy tzatziki on warm pita."

"The craving for slow-braised lamb and tandoori chicken leads to lines out the door during lunch as well as the recent opening of a second location in the West Loop. This Indian-inspired restaurant follows a Chipotle model with build-your-own naanwiches, rice bowls and salads."

"Naansense allows you to assemble your own taco or bowl using Indian-inspired ingredients such as tandoori chicken, marinated chickpeas, and spiced coconut sauce. The variations and possibilities are infinite. If you’re looking for a real treat, try the poutine."

"The city’s finest shish kabobs are found on the Northwest Side at this mom-and-pop joint. Owners Mike and Ann Antonopoulos set up shop in Montclare back in the ‘60s and have gained a cult following over the decades for their sandwiches. The shish kabobs are marinated in a special sauce, charred on the grill, and served on a French roll with onions and tomatoes."

"It likes to keep things simple when it comes to its macarons, for one, which come in six usual flavors: raspberry, salted caramel, pistachio, vanilla, chocolate, and Nutella. The bakery and cafe also offer a gift-wrapping service, both in boxes of 5, 10 and 20 or party favors: clear cubes with 2 macarons, or cellophane bags with 2 or 3 choices. We also love that although the macarons sold here are priced at $2.25 each, the price goes down with the more you buy."

"Paris may not be a car ride away, but Sugar Fixé is the next best thing. If you’re a major macaron enthusiast, you’ll love the macaron cake that resembles a mega macaron. Dreams really do come true."

"Le Macaron found on West Armitage Avenue invites guests to experience the best of French cuisine. The coffee shop’s website describes its macarons as the perfect delicacy, original and elegant, and we think they’re 100% correct. Le Macaron does offer some really fun flavors alongside the more traditional choices, though: including bubblegum, violet cassis, gingerbread, and strawberry key lime."

"Restaurants Bakeries Armour Square. Dim sum fans are accustomed to cart service and ordering cards, but the majority of the small dishes traditionally served originated in tea houses and bakeries in southern China. Chinese bakery Chi Quon has been making these delectable items for decades, attracting locals and visitors from around the city with dishes like fresh BBQ pork buns, sesame balls filled with bean paste and decorative mango mousse cake."

"Chiu Quon in Chinatown is the original location of this classic Chinese bakery (the other is in Uptown). And though we love them both, we can’t think of a better place to stop for a snack while walking around Chicago’s Chinatown. Anything from their pastry case will be delicious, such as the pork buns, sponge cakes, sesame balls, egg custards, and much more."

"With four stars out of 342 reviews on Yelp, the bakery, which offers dim sum and more, has proven to be a local favorite for those looking for a cheap option. Look for pastries and steamed buns on the menu."

"Restaurants Bakeries Bridgeport. This iconic Polish bakery closed in October 2019 after decades of serving pączki, doughnuts, cookies and other candy-colored sweets to its fans. Thankfully, new ownership swept in and restored the spot to its former glory."

"If you’re wondering what happened to Bridgeport Bakery 1.0, it closed. But thankfully version 2.0 has the same delicious treats as the original. And while they have a lot of baked goods besides donuts, we like coming here for their long johns and bismarks."

"Polk Bros Fountain and Plaza at the entrance of Navy Pier greets children with an exciting 12,500 square foot signature fountain (during warm weather) with more than 150 programmable jets that mimic the movements of waves, schools of fish and flocks of birds. While at the park, kids will have fun posing with the vibrant “Meet Me at the ‘P’” art installation."

"Located at the entry point of the Pier, I have a love/hate relationship with this fountain. I love how happy it makes my water-obsessed toddler but I hate how long it takes me to coax him into leaving. The 12,500 square foot fountain isn’t just a regular fountain."